I have a wet sump LS7 and used an LS3 dipstick like commonly suggested. But that dipstick is made for engines with 3.62" stroke and I actually have a 4" stroke. I'm starting to wonder if I've been over filling my LS7 when using the fill scale meant for a shorter stroke engine.

What do you guys think? I guess I'm going to see if I can figure out what dipstick GM uses with their wet sump LS7 crate engines....

 

i don’t think the stroke determines the fill. Example, if you turn a ls1 346 and stroke it to a 383, we use the same stick.
I believe the oil pan and also where the dip stock enters (oil pan vs block) are what should determine the length.

what we did was at an oil change - new oil and filter - add 6.5 quarts (a little extra for the turbos) and mark the dip stick. That became the fill mark.

unless your concern is the sloshing due to the longer throw of the crank?
If so, I always assumed “full” oil was below the windage tray so it did not matter.

 

Dipstick and pan have not a clue which engine they are under. As long as the stick stabs the pan in the same relationship as it is intended, that is all that matters....

 

My windage tray is lower than LS1 because of the longer stroke.

My old 4.125" stroker whipped up oil with the LS1 F-body pan. Probably aerated the oil badly. I was too dumb back then to know the difference.

 

As long as the "full" level is below the windage tray, that should not matter. That's why you have a windage tray....

 

... but is it? That's what I'm beginning to wonder. I suppose it is because it doesn't contact the sump baffles. I'll feel better when I round up some numbers.

 

You only added .38 to the stroke. I doubt you sunk the tray in the oil. They start with a fair margin of clearance.

 

ok now I am following. Recall that we moved the windage tray down using nuts as spacers to account for the throw.

looking at it from another angle: if oil pan is the same, and pick up is the same , then fill level should be the same as stock.

I am looking at the iron 408 I am building. Dip stick tube hole is on the block. Is the dipstick hole in the LS7 in the block or in the pan? (Can’t get out to the shop to look at either car right now)

 

So it looks like for trucks there was no different part number for the 4.8 5.3 or 6.0 dipstick. So at least in truck applications stroke did not affect which dipstick is used.

 

There is a boss in the engine casting in stock location but I had to drill it thru myself. I used the AFX drill guide tool.

I'll tell you what, I just did some math using rough dimensions for Holley 302-1 pan and the oil level is way higher than I thought would be. Now I'm wishing I had filled the pan and measured this out before assembling the engine, but it's been this way for 2 years now.

 

When running, the engine oil level in the pan drops way down. I have an 87’ Chevy 4wd in my shop that my brother bought new. It’s got 17” of suspension lift and sits way up over 44” tall tires. It’s a beast. No way to check the oil, so when building it, i windowed the oil pan, to keep an eye on oil level. I deleted the dipstick, again because, there’s no way to check the oil without getting out a ladder. The window is 2” diameter on an aluminum Steffs pan. Oil level cold is just below top of window, and while running, it drops down below the 2” window. Here’s the truck, in case your remotely interested...

 

That truck is badass!

Very interesting info about the sight window and how much the oil level drops.

 

Thank you. 54k original miles. Brother custom ordered it brand new. I drove it to school a couple times when it was new. I started the frame-off in 2000 and finished the truck in 2018. Long, long story...he’s got more money in bolts than a lot of people here have in their engines. Not kidding. Original sheet metal, zero rust, bla, Bla, bla.